Method and means for ferruling wooden spokes



Nov. 10,1921;- 1,560,814

1' c. G. HAWLEY Ila-won m: mamas you FERRULING woonsn sroxss Filed Aug. 27,. 192o 2 S 1 g yam f- W y gg gg C. G. HAWLEY METHOD AND MEANS FOR FERRULING WOODEN SPOKES Nov. 10, 1925. 1,560,814

Filed Aug. 27, 1920 2 heets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 10, 19 25.

um'ren sures CHARLES GILBERT HAWLEY, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, Assienon ToBAKEn WHEEL AND RIM COMPANY, or CHICAGO, I LLInoI's, A CORPORATION 01* 'IL'LiuoIs.

METHOD AND MEANS Eon E RnuL-mewoonnu sPoKEs.

' Application filed August 27, 1920. Serial No, 406,289.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES GILBERT HAW- LEY, a citizenof the United States, and a resident of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvement-sin and for Methods and Meansfor Ferruling Vooden Spokes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates generally to the production of wooden members having ferruled ends, but in some of its aspects relates more particularly to theproduction of wooden spokes for use in vehicle wheels.

The general object of my invention is to provide a method and means of fer'ruling wooden members whereby an exceptionally strong and durable wooden member can be provided.- r I 7 It is also an object of my invention to provide a method and means for producing,

wooden spokes for use in vehicle wheels, but more particularly automobile wheels which shall lend themselves to the production of an exceptionally strong, light, resilient, durable and safe wheel.

It is also an object of my invention to provide a method and means for producing wooden spoke member's whereby the assembly of the spoke and metallic parts is facilitated, a much stronger and better wh'eel' produced, and whereby the cost of production can be decreased. g

It is a particular object of my invention to provide a Wooden spoke member, and a method of producing the same, which shall beespecially adapted to the manufacture of wheels wherein the usual felly is dispensed with, to which type of Wheel I have heretofore applied the term semi-wood wheel.

My invention consists generally in the steps, acts, and stated sequence thereof, in the means and also in the article of manufacture resulting therefrom, whereby the above named objects, together with others that will appear hereinafter, are attainable; and my invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate What I eonsider at the present time to be the preferred embodiment thereof.

In said drawing'sz' Fig. 1, is a somewhat diagrammatic View showing one of the steps in the manufacture of a wooden poke to which ametal ferrule is to be applied.

Fig. 2 is a Vie similar to Fig. 1, bet

illustrating an advanced step. p

Fig. 3, isa/v'iew similar to Fig. 2, but

illustrating the ferrule applied and'the' parts? separated.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view of the ferruled' end of'the spoke diming that "step of the operation depicted Fig. 2;: v

Fig. 5 is a detail sectionalview' of a medi fic'ation' of my invention.

views showing the application of the spoke r ends of Figs. 10 and 11 t'oor' t'heir'association with the metallic bands of automobile wheel's.

Inasmuch as wooden ferrule members embodying my invention are particularly adapted for use with and arejofespecial value as applied to the spokes of automobile Wheels, I shall cl'escribe 'my invention with particular reference to such use, but this, it

should be understood, is by way of illustration' and not by way of limitation.

An automobile wheel of the type referred to is composed of a pluralityxof wooden spoke members usually provided with .mi-' te'red butt portions so that when associated together a solid central or hub portion is provided.-

Much of thestability of thewhee'l is' deg Fig. 6 is a detail sectional viewof a an;

pendent upon the proper formation ofthis central wooden or hub part of the wheel and the accurate fittin thereof both initially and thereafter in use, is of vital iniportanc'e. the so-called seine-weed wheels in which the usual felly is omitted andthe tire or rim carrying-band is positioned directly upon of secur d to the spokeends, the form, eta

So also in the manufacture ef' resents a wooden spoke which as here shown is provided with a cylindrical outer portion 2 and a butt portion '3, which is provided or formed with mitered faces el-. It will be understood that in the formation of 'the. wheel a full complement of wooden spokes 1 will be arranged in radial form, the butts 3 forming the all wood center. Because of the necessity of a plurality of such spokes co -acting it is essential that the size and mitered form of the butts be accurate and uniform. Because of the fact that the outer ends of the spokes must engage and be encompassed by a band it is also essential that the length of the various spokes be accurately and uniformly fixed. These desirable characteristics are imparted to the spokeand at the same time a ferrule is secured to the outer end thereof. To this endI place a wooden spoke, which is generally cut or formed substantially to size and with the desired shaped butt portion. The various spoke .members will be found in practice to vary somewhat in size, some being larger and longer than others- I provide a die member 5 having a die opening 6 therein which'is substantially the diam eter of the cylindrical end portion 2 of the spoke. Therein I place a metallic band or a ferrule 8.

shortly be described. The die opening 6 is provided with a bell-shaped mouth 10 and the ferrule is preferably beveled as indicated at 11. Spaced from the die 5, which may be considered as a stationary die, will be found a movable die 12 which is provided with a die opening 13 having inclined faces 14 which diverge at precisely the angle desired in the spoke butt. Means are provided for forcibly moving the die 12 toward the die 5 and in the course of such movement the wooden spoke 1 is moved longitudinally toward the die 5', the end portion 2 thereof entering the be1l-shaped mouth of the die, being compressed thereby, and upon further movement entering the ferrule 8 so that eventually the end face 15 of the spoke abuts against the plunger 9. By fixing'the extent of the movable die 12 it is obvious that the length of the wooden spoke 1 is accurately fixed. Also that Behind the ferrule I arrange ,a plunger 9, the purpose of which will characters.

when an oversize spoke is acted upon it is compressed and very nicely and accurately sized and shaped. The end of the spoke upon which the metal ferrule has been forced is obviously compressed and that portion of the spoke is made denser and more resistant to and hence better adapted to withstand the direct action of the load imposed thereon in a wheel. The ferrule obviously isfirmly fixed on the spoke and becomes, in effect, an inseparable part thereof. After the spoke has been thus acted upon as is shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the die 12 is withdrawn and the plun er 9' actuated to force the spoke end out of the die 5 in which it was tightly held by the compressive action before referred to.

Obviously members other than wooden spokes may be conditioned in like manner and 1n Fig. 7, 16represents a wooden handle-like member provided with a ferrule.

These movable die members 20 and 21 are vertically separated to permit insertion of the ferrule or band 24. T heyarc then closed to the full line position shown in Fig. 5 and the spoke end forced into place. To release the stake end-with the metallic ferrule attached thereto the die members 20 and 21: are vertically separated. This ferruled memberdilfers' from the one first described in that the ferrule is not entirely flush with the adjacent part of the wooden member;

In Fig. 6 a slightly different form of my invention is shown wherein 25 and; 26 are separable die members 2? the ferrule and 28 the wooden member to which the ferrule is to-be applied. The ferrule is originally of a size substantially equal to that of the member 28 and by bringing the die members 25 and 26 together the same is upset or com pressed upon and around the end of the member 28' thus packing or condensing the wood and firmly securing the ferrule in place.

In Fig. 9 will be found mechanism for actuating the die parts of that form of my invention shown in Figs. 1 to d inclusive, and to which I have-applied like reference The movable die member12 it will be seen has a stem or guide portion29 which operates in a guide block 30. The stem or guide rod 29, in turn, is connected to an arm or link 81 which is connected to an eccentric or crank pin 32. Obviously roand support a demountable rim.

tuti'on o' f the crank pin: 32" around the center or a shaft will impart* areciprocatory movementto the stem 29 I and die carried thereby.

In Fig. 10 will be "found awmodification wherein represents 'aadie. similar "to" the die 5 but having a curved bottom to the die opening indicated at 35* whereby the end may be curved to the arc of a circle corresponding to the form of a metal band with which it is to be used in the production of a wheel.

In Fig. 12 will be found a spoke end associated with a metallic band 36 having a conical flange 37 thereon adapted to receive For the purpose of actuating the lug or clamp that is used in conjunction with the demountable rim, not shown, a bolt 38 is passed through the outer ferruled end of the spoke and through the dependent flange portion 36 of the band 36. A recess or opening 39 is provided in the band 36 into which a portion of the bolt head 40 projects. Because of the dense character of the ferruled end of the spoke it serves admirably to receive and hold the bolt 38 and also to withstand any and all loads imposed thereon in the use of the wheel.

The wheel construction shown in Fig. 12 is adapted to receive a demountable rim whereas the wheel construction shown in Fig. 13 is one wherein a detachable side flange is provided and the tire secured directly on the band or tire holding rim 41.

The end of the spoke is provided with a tenon or central projection 42 which enters a hole 48 in the band 41. The ferrule 44 can be placed upon the spoke in any of the ways before described. The ease with which the metallic ferrule can be affixed and the tenon 42 conditioned is well shown in Fig. 11 wherein like reference characters are ap-' plied to the spoke as in Fig. 13 and wherein 45 represents the die. Obviously by forcing the spoke into the die 45 the spoke can be very quickly and accurately sized, shaped and the end thereof compressed better to withstand conditions of use.

The many advantages of my invention will be understood by those skilled in this art without further comment.

I claim 1. The herein described method of operating upon wooden spokes having mitered butt ends which consists in simultaneously compressing the fibres of both ends of said spoke and at the same time firmly securing a ferrule upon that end of the spoke opposite the mitered butt end.

2. The herein described method of operating upon wooden spokes having mitered butt ends which consists in simultaneously compressing the fibres of both ends ofv said spokes, and at the same time sizing the mitered-mutt end au'd firmly securing refer rule upon that end of th-e' spoke opposite tli'ewmi'tered 'butt --"en d; y 7

3. The herein described method :ofsizing andferrul-ing wooden spokes 'that' consists in longitudinally aligning a wooden spoke and; an "untlersize ferrule, and by forces: act ing: longitudinally :of' the parts compressing one end of the spoke and forcing the ferrule thereon and compressing and sizing the butt portion. I

4. An apparatus for operating upon wooden spokes having mitered but-t ends, comprising in combination means for holding a ferrule, means for receiving and engaging the mitered butt end of a spoke, and means for producing a relative endwise movement between said ferrule holding means and said butt end receiving and engaging means, said two last mentioned means acting during said relative movement to compress the mitered butt end to size and to tightly secure a ferrule around the other end of the spoke.

5. The herein described means of ferruling and sizing wooden spokes embodying therein means for holding a ferrule, said means having an outwardly flaring die opening, means adapted to engage the butt of and'hold a wooden spoke, and means for causing the approach of the ferrule holding means, and the butt spoke engaging means, whereby the ferrule is placed around and tightly secured to one end of the spoke and the mitered butt sized. r

6. The herein described means of ferruling and sizing wooden spokes embodying therein means for holding a ferrule, means adapted to engage the butt of and hold a" wooden spoke, means for causing the approach of the ferrule holding means, and the butt spoke engaging means, whereby the ferrule is placed around and tightly secured to one end of the spoke andthe mitered butt is sized, and means for separating the ferruled spoke from the holding means.

7. An apparatus for operating upon wooden spokes having mitered butt ends, comprising in combination, means for holding a ferrule, means for receiving andengaging the mitered butt end of a spoke, means for producing a grelative endwise movement between said ferrule holding means and said butt end receiving means, said-two last mentioned means acting during said relative movement to compress the butt end to size and to tightly secure a ferrule around'the other end of the spoke, and means for removing the ferruled and sized spoke from said two lastmentioned means, said spoke removing means including a movable plunger positioned in said ferrule holding means, I e

8. As an article of manufacture a wooden spoke, for semi-Wood Wheels, having a compressed end portion provided With a fer- 10 rule and a bolt piercing the compressed ferruled end portion thereof.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 5th day of August, 1920.

CHARLES GILBERT I-IAVLEY. 

